Chapter 266 - 174: The True Vampire Ancestors: A Clue to the Mother of Demons

Chapter 266: Chapter 174: The True Vampire Ancestors: A Clue to the Mother of Demons

"Companion?" Su Xuan stared at the bond keyword that had appeared on the vampire’s Blood Jade Pearl, a little surprised.

The previous bond keyword—Sisters—had allowed him to recruit the two sisters, Beiya Fuli and Beira Furo.

And this time, the bond keyword was—Companion!

’Wouldn’t this mean I’ll recruit a married couple?’

However, Su Xuan quickly dismissed the idea.

’After all, the word "Companion" doesn’t just refer to a marital relationship. It could also signify other forms of close bonds, and might not even be limited by gender.’

Su Xuan decided to put the thought aside for now and consider it during the next recruitment. After all, he had just recruited Viora, and he currently had too few keywords to make a decision.

He looked over at Xu Feiyan and saw her handing the vampire’s Blood Jade Pearl to Viora.

"This is a protective talisman unique to the Vampire Race. It contains a special power. In a critical moment, it can offer you protection," Xu Feiyan explained to Viora.

"Thank you so much~" Viora gratefully accepted the Blood Jade Pearl, her eyes twinkling with delight.

She could clearly feel the potent life force contained within the Blood Jade Pearl, which was something she adored.

Meanwhile, Su Xuan’s gaze was fixed on the Blood Jade Pearl in Viora’s hand, and he couldn’t help but wonder if he had anything he could trade with Viora for it...

"Oh, right~" Xu Feiyan said softly, her amber eyes turning to Su Xuan. "President Su Xuan, has Petico asked you anything about her ancestors? She’s very concerned about the matter."

Su Xuan shook his head slightly and replied, "No, she hasn’t."

"Is that so..." Xu Feiyan narrowed her eyes slightly. After a moment of thought, she said slowly, "Then allow me to ask on Petico’s behalf... about those two vampire ancestors."

"In ancient vampire legends, the entire race was created by two True Ancestors. Both of these True Ancestors were Primordial Demons born from the Mother of Demons. They commanded the power of the Laws, which was known as Primordial Sin."

Hearing Xu Feiyan mention the "Mother of Demons," Su Xuan’s expression grew solemn. This was the second time he had heard the title, and moreover, the Demon Stone Tablet Fragment representing the Mother of Demons was lying quietly in his inventory right now.

According to legend, the Mother of Demons was the most primordial Demon, the one who created all other Demons. But Her existence has always been a mystery. Even the Demons themselves have never witnessed Her true form.

"However~" Xu Feiyan’s tone shifted, and a mysterious glint flashed in her eyes.

She continued, "But I’ve heard from Petico that’s not what really happened. The entire Vampire Race was created by a single True Ancestor using her blood, not by two True Ancestors procreating. That True Ancestor exhausted her own blood, bestowing it upon one hundred human women and turning them into Vampires. Then, through those one hundred women, the race flourished, passing down the bloodline in the same way. After tens of thousands of years, they eventually evolved into the most powerful Demon Race in the Abyss of Pride—the Vampire Race."

"So the Vampire Race was originally created through the passing of blood..." Su Xuan muttered to himself after hearing Xu Feiyan’s explanation, gaining a deeper understanding of this abyssal race.

"Actually, passing on blood isn’t strictly necessary. Vampires can also be born through procreation. It’s just that Vampires born through the transfer of blood tend to have purer bloodlines and are therefore more powerful."

Xu Feiyan added, "Of course, that’s on the condition that the blood being passed on is a vampire’s lifeblood, not ordinary blood. Vampires created from ordinary blood are merely inferior Blood Servants. And expending one’s lifeblood can be fatal to a vampire, so very few of them would do so on a large scale to create offspring."

Su Xuan asked curiously, "And what about that True Ancestor, after she exhausted her blood? What happened to her?"

The woman from the Vampire Ancestor Painting surfaced in his mind again. ’Could she be the True Ancestor Xu Feiyan mentioned, the one who exhausted her blood?’

Xu Feiyan didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she lifted her teacup for a light sip, then gently shook her head and said, "That, I don’t know. Even Petico doesn’t know what became of that True Ancestor."

"Alright. Then what about the other True Vampire Ancestor?" Su Xuan continued to ask.

Xu Feiyan set down her teacup and answered, "As for her, Petico said she went to find the Mother of Demons. What came of that is also a mystery."

This answer left Su Xuan slightly stunned as a strange sense of confusion washed over him. ’So both True Ancestors ended up disappearing...’

At that moment, Xu Feiyan’s amber eyes locked onto Su Xuan as she asked, "So, Petico is extremely curious about how you were cursed by a True Vampire Ancestor. After all, both True Ancestors vanished tens of thousands of years ago; the Vampire Race has nearly forgotten them. So why would you have a connection to them?"

Su Xuan shook his head helplessly, giving a wry smile. "I’d like to know that myself..."

"If I had to find a reason..." Su Xuan mused for a moment before continuing, "I think it might be because I obtained a Vampire Ancestor Painting. From that point on, I’ve been afflicted by their Curse."

"A Vampire Ancestor Painting?" At his words, a specific image seemed to surface in Xu Feiyan’s mind.

She immediately activated a light screen, on which a remarkably lifelike Vampire Ancestor Painting appeared. "Is it this one?" she inquired.

Su Xuan looked closely and immediately nodded in confirmation. "Yes! That’s the one!"

As he spoke, he carefully took his own painting out of his inventory.

The two paintings were identical, from the finest details to the overall composition.

An indescribable excitement welled up in Su Xuan. He never imagined that he would find a third Vampire Ancestor Painting here with Xu Feiyan.

"To think it was because of this painting..." Xu Feiyan’s voice held a hint of surprise. She mulled it over for a moment before continuing, "However, this painting is currently being kept in Petico’s family castle. Otherwise, we could have studied its secrets further."

"Could I buy this painting from Petico? It has a special use for me," Su Xuan asked Xu Feiyan.

Xu Feiyan replied, "You’ll have to ask her that yourself. Once this Demon Cave event is over, I will relay your request to her."

"Thank you very much," Su Xuan said sincerely. He was filled with anticipation. ’If I can get this Vampire Ancestor Painting, then I’ll have collected the clues from all three paintings!’

’I’ll be able to synthesize the [Vampire] keyword!’

Just as the two were conversing, the image on the light screen suddenly changed. Two Demon Caves with a high danger rating began to shake violently, as if something was about to hatch from within.

Following that, demon armies numbering in the tens of thousands slowly emerged from the iceberg and the volcano, their appearance immediately drawing the attention of numerous Adventurers.

"It looks like it’s time," Xu Feiyan said, her expression growing serious. "Let’s get ready. The war is about to begin."

"Mm."

Su Xuan nodded, just about to shift his gaze to the screen displaying his Guild members’ points of view.

But just then, the voice of a True Vampire Ancestor suddenly echoed in his mind: "She was only half right. I didn’t go looking for the Mother of Demons. I went to challenge Her. As the being who created all Demons, Her blood... must be delicious, wouldn’t you say?"